Key foe secueing steeeotype plates



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

D. REID.

KEY FOR-SECURING STEREOTYPE PLATES.

Patented Jan. 7, 1890'.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. D. REID.

KEY FOR SECURING STBREOTYPE PLATES.

No. 418,985. Patented Ja n.7,1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID REID, OF MELBOURNE, VICTORIA.

KEY FOR SECURING STEREOTYPE-PLATES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 418,985, dated January 7, 1890.

Application filed November 11, 1889- Serial No. 329,896. I (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID REID, publisher, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at N o. 143 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, in the British Colony of Victoria, have invented an Improved Key for Securing Stereotype-Plates to their Base-Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists of an improved key for securing stereotype-plates to their baseblocks.

The key is made in two partsan upper and a lower-eaeh in the shape of channel-iron, placed back to back and so riveted together as to allow of a slight lateral play. The flanges or sides of these channels may be pressed outward, so as to make a more obtuse anglewith theirbottom, or they may be pressed inward, so as to form a less obtuse angle therewith, the object of this adjustment being to make it possible to widen or contract the key, if necessary, in order to make it accurately fit into the grooves in the base-block and stereotype-plate, respectively. These keys I prefer to make in comparatively short lengths, and so that the upper and the lower parts break joint with each other.

The upper and lower parts of the key are tightly held together vertically by the rivets, but have a slight lateral play, so that the upper part can slide sidewise to the right or left upon the lower part.

The object of riveting the two parts of the key tightly together vertically isthat the key may have a tendency to hold the stereotype-plate and base-block securely together, acting upon them like a spring and pressing them firmly one upon the other, and the object of giving to the upper part of the key a sliding motion sidewise is that the key,when being pushed into its place, may the more readily adjust itself to the grooves in the baseblock and stereotype-plate, even if the grooves do not exactly correspond the one to the other. The lower face of the stereotype-plate and the upper face of the base-block are planed true each to each, so that when placed in position and held tightly together by means of the spring-like action of the key the whole forms one solid compact stereotype-block exactly typehigh, and can be printed with type with little or no trouble in making ready. In order, however, that my invention may be more perfectly understood, I will now refer to my drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 show, respectively, a side and end elevation of a stereotype-plate and its base-block secured together by one of my improved keys. Fig. 3 is a top view of the base-block, showing my improved key. Figs. 4 and 5 show, respectively, on an enlarged scale, side and end views of one of my improved keys with the flanges or sides in their medium or standard position. Figs. 6 and 7 show side and end views of same when the sides or flanges have been pressed outward, so as to form a more obtuse angle with the bottom of the channel metal, while Figs. 8 and 9 show similar views, but with the flanges pressed inward, so as to form a less obtuse angle with the bottom than is shown in the standard shape.

A is the baseblock, B the stereotype-plate, and G is my improved key, composed of an upperand a lower part, as most clearly shown in Figs. 5, 7, and 9, the flanges or sides of which are marked 0, and the rivets for connecting the upper with the lower part are marked 0. The enlargement in the hole for the rivets c and the lateral play thereby allowed are shown by dotted lines in Fig. 9.

I do not confine myself to any special metal in the construction of my keys; but I believe that it is best to make them of zinc, brass, or steel and to connect their upper and lower parts together by means of brass rivets.

These keys are in every case to be so made as to fit the dovetailed grooves made, respectively, in the lower face of the stereotypeplate and in the upper face of its base-block, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is My improved key for securing stereotypeplates to their base-blocks, consisting, essentially, of two lengths of thin flexible channeled metal placed back to back and connected together by any suitable meanssuch as brass rivetssaid upper and lower parts being preferably of short lengths, and each breaking joint with the other, all substantially as herein described and explained, and as illustrated in my drawings.

DAVID REID. WVitnesses:

WALTER SMYTHE BAYSTON, WALTER CHARLES HART. 

